Below is a list of factors that contribute to a carpet’s overall quality. No single factor should be viewed in isolation. Rather, it is the proper mix of all of the factors that will provide the best performance, durability, and longevity. It can be easy to believe that a higher face weight represents a more durable carpet, but this is not always the case because several things influence a carpet’s weight. This is easy to calculate yourself. Measure a one-inch length of the carpet fiber, and count how many turns you see in it. If the fiber is shorter than one inch, measure a half-inch and then double the number of twists you count, to get the twist number. Common synthetic carpet fibers include nylon, polyester, olefin (polypropylene) and triexta. Natural carpet fibers such as wool and sisal are used less often, but still, play a role in the carpet industry.
